a.k.a. kouzinovia – a greek word describing a female person who lives in the kitchen. Always.

Month: October 2015

This is a combination of my favourite vanilla, pound cake and the apple filling I use for apple pie. The result is an exceptional cake, moist and velvety. Garnish with some chopped walnuts or pecans for some crunch and extra flavor. I wouldn’t say no to a generous drizzle of double cream, but this cake is delicious served as it is. Still working on the presentation, but the taste is all there. Continue reading →

This is the closest thing to eating a Shawarma wrap at Maroush restaurant in London. Baked whole, rubbed with lots of aromatic spices, the lamb retains it’s juiciness. And after 4 hours in the oven, it becomes melt-in-your-mouth soft. Continue reading →

This is the perfect dish, sliced in wedges like a pizza, and served with guacamole and sour cream. I used chicken breast for this recipe but any part of the chicken is fine. The chicken is first rubbed with a fragrant spice mix, then grilled, sliced and stuffed in the tortilla, with heaps of cheddar cheese and grilled corn salad. Continue reading →

Peel the avocados and put in a bowl in big chunks. Keep one tablespoon lime or lemon juice. Drizzle the rest over the avocados and mix gently. This will keep the color from changing. Add the salt, cumin and cayenne and mix with a fork, breaking up the avocado while mixing with the spices. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Drizzle the tablespoon of lime juice on the surface of the guacamole. Cover with plastic wrap making sure the plastic touches the surface of the guacamole. Put in the fridge until ready to serve.

I first tasted this dish in Istanbul, in a small restaurant, hidden away somewhere around the spice market. When you first bite into this aromatic kofta, you will see (and taste) tiny green pieces of pistachios. Continue reading →

The perfect salad to serve along any kebab or grilled meat. Serve wrapped in pita bread with chicken shawarma, or lamb kebabs or as a side salad to a Sunday lunch. Perfect in any way! Continue reading →

Heartwarming, creamy, gingery carrot soup. Soups are so simple to prepare and so impressive when served at the dinner table. In this version of a carrot soup, no potatoes or leeks are added. Just tons of orange goodness flavoured with ginger and brandy. Continue reading →